I want to get everybody’s thoughts on when you do your doe removal? and do you have specific stands that you just doe hunt?
my thoughts are to hunt the destination plots late season using something portable so when you are done you can remove that “danger” I think this keeps your good buck stands more productive in years to come, 
Your thoughts please?
Hey bob I think you are right about the whole portable stand thing. One thing I think that plays a big part in keeping the herd unaware of danger is trying to make sure there are only a few deer around when you make that kill. The more deer that witness it, the more deer your educating. Just my two cents.
I try to kill does in october befor the rut and usualy do it out of my climber. Also here in Iowa shotgun and late Muzzle loader seasons are good times to kill a couple. During shotgun season in Iowa there is danger almost every where for the deer so I think that a guy takeing a 1 shot kill will not spook them as bad as the neighbor who just had 20 guys push them out of his property and shooting at every deer within a 100 yards of any hunter.
There are several stands that we don’t shoot does out of until late season. For one, the drag job would be way too far for a doe but more importantly we don’t want to mess up the area for a mature buck. But we have a few stands in which we will shoot does out of anytime of the season. But opening week we will not because these bucks are still on their summer pattern
The hills are so steep where I hunt, that I choose only to shoot does when I can drag them down hill or up hill a short way to where I can get an ATV or truck. Dragging a doe up a near vertical hill is no fun. They don’t have antlers to grab on to.
If it comes down to it I do it on the last day of season. Unless my father and brother have taken one during firearms season.
The previous few years, we’ve taken them during the bow season, rifle, and late season by bow or muzzle loader. I’m going to propose next year we either do it one or two weeks before rifle by bow(keep the pressure off the area by dragging deer out, etc) and during the muzzle loader season. I think we are making the bucks nocternal by the time rifle season comes around.
For me it depends completely on the farm, in the unlimited zone I will take any/every shot given as long as the isn’t recent evedence of a shooter hit/lister around. I prefer to take them muzzleloader when its cold but this year they have frozre stiff over nite!! Which isnt fun either! IMO in MN we are not given enuff antlerless tags in quanities to make them effective herd management tools in the micro locations that need it, so I hold my buck tag til the last minute! And fill my doe tag to eat! Great topic Bob, I will add that I have 2 farms that I can hunt once a week with out disrupting major deer movments but if I kill ONE doe it all out of wack the rest of the season regardless!
I try to take does during muzzleloader, late doe only season, or late bow season. Which this year has not worked out for me. 
Main reason being that I don’t want to disturb any deer movement until the only thing on their mind is food. No matter what is going on, when the cold and snow hit, they gotta eat. I will hunt any stand, but will only take shots when there are minimal deer around. All I have left now is late bow. But I still have 3 vacation days to burn by the end of the year…
I usually try to get one in the freezer early in the archery season and as mentioned with as few as witnesses as possible. I will also shoot any doe that I feel has figured me out or has busted me. I have had some smart old does that have busted me and caused some problems later in the year. 
I hunt 2 different properties. On 1 we shoot does on the other we don’t. I try to shoot them on weekends when nights are cool enough to let them hang. As far as stands I will whack a doe from any stand given the chance. I always save 1 doe tag for muzzleloader.
I may go into the woods not planning on taking a doe but after a couple stomps and a snort 
Interesting post Bob
last night I sat and watched over 30 does in one plot from the house So I know we didn’t take enough does again this year Thanks for all of your input as to when and how to harvest the does, I just wish I would have had a few more removed (there was also more than 60 turkeys 
hard to keep the deer in food with all of those field rats )
Quote:
last night I sat and watched over 30 does in one plot from the house
Sounds like Joel isn’t keeping the population down I Have turkey gun will travel 
Quote:
Quote:
last night I sat and watched over 30 does in one plot from the house
Sounds like Joel isn’t keeping the population down
Talked to Joel a couple of nights ago, he said he was bringing you to my place to hammer one
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
last night I sat and watched over 30 does in one plot from the house
Sounds like Joel isn’t keeping the population down
Talked to Joel a couple of nights ago, he said he was bringing you to my place to hammer one
I am thinking about putting a bounty on them 
and buy a doe tag and stop over
Turkey killing and talking smart I’m in 
At least I’m good at one of those 
Personally, I’ll shoot em whenever. I try not to think to much of it. I really havnt had any problems with are doe to buck harvest out of any of our stands.
I tell myself every-time that I go out that I am holding out for a buck. Its those does that tempt me… I have a hard time not shooting when you decide to mill around at 15 yards broadside.
Ideally I think it would be best to clean them up before the rut but then again I want my does during the rut for bait 
I just shoot and don’t invest much thought into it. Like I said.. the ones who tempt me are the ones who get it. I love shooting does! Hope to get one more in the next couple weeks.
I like does for late season. And now with the deep snow, she is going to be a small one at that!
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
